GUWAHATI: With the COVID-19 scare now over, it's time for the tourists to visit people and places they have been planning to.
A congenial weather has encouraged the Bhutanese authorities to reopen the Indo-Bhutan border which was sealed two and a half years back because of the pandemic.
But a slew of new rules is still in force, which include a fee for sustainable development of the Himalayan kingdom.
The reopening was marked by a ceremony organized by the Indo-Bhutan Friendship Association at Samdrup-Jongkhar in Tamulpur district of Assam on Friday, where Bhutan's Consul General Jigme Thinley Namgyal was present.
He formally announced the opening of the border gates for the waiting traders and tourists at Samdrup-Jongkhar in Tamulpur district. This has brought no less joy for the tourists in Dadgiri and Gelephu in Chirang, Namlang and Panbang in Baksa and Samrang in Udalguri. Visitors would be able to cross the border from morning to evening.
Both the countries were preparing to reopen the border to facilitate the tourists and the local tradesmen. The two sides strictly monitored the pandemic and finally found it safe to open the border afresh.
The new fee structure includes a charge to uplift tourism infrastructure and environmental conservation.
Also, all travellers to the Himalayan kingdom would be strictly scanned to ascertain their identity.
Bhutan is known to be an ideal country to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature.
Bhutan is considered to be one of the most wonderful tourist hot spots in the world. The Himalayan kingdom was opened up for the first time for outside tourists in 1974, with a moderate tourism policy and package and started getting dividends in the form of a hefty amount.
The Indo-Bhutan border is an open international border separating the two countries. The border is 699 km long, and adjoins the Indian states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal, and Sikkim.
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